Automatic card dealing machine

ABSTRACT

A system for automatically positioning the magnetic tape head of a cartridge-type player capable of playing different kinds of multitrack tape cartridges. Each cartridge has coded portions which indicate the number of tracks therein, and a bellcrank pivotally mounted to the tape player is responsive to the coded portion of the cartridge placed in the player to position a dual cam relative to a cam follower thereby positioning the head in accordance with the number of tracks in the particular cartridge.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Marlo W. V. Erickson, 6968 S. SanFernando, Tucson, Ariz. 85706 [21] Appl. No. 56,893

[22] Filed July 21,1970

[45] Patented Dec. 14.1971

[54] AUTOMATIC CARD DEALING MACHINE 5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

FOREIGN PATENTS 415,431 7/1910 France 273/149 R Primary Examiner- AntonO. Oechsle Attorneys Pike H. Sullivan ABSTRACT: An automatic carddealing machine comprising a base member which contains a drivingmechanism. A hollow top section is removably disposed on the base to berotated about a vertical axis by said driving mechanism. Disposedbetween the base member and top section is one of a plurality of camplates, each having a number of cams thereon corresponding to the numberof dealing stations arbitrarily selected. The top section carries ahorizontal shaft having a plurality of arms extending therefrom and sodisposed as to incrementally rotate the shaft by engagement ofsuccessive arms with successive cams upon rotation of the top section.The incremental rotation of the shaft causes incremental rotation of aplurality of flexible arms with pliable tips past the cards to be dealtto eject the cards through an opening in the top section.

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PATENTEUUEBMIHYI $527,331

sum 1 [1F 2 INVENTOR W V ERICKSON This invention relates to card games;more particularly, to an accessory used when playing cards; still moreparticularly, to that one particular accessory known as a card dealer.

For the benefit of those less experienced in the art, a card dealer isdefined as a mechanical device i n which a pack of playing cards isplaced and automatically dealt one at a time to a predetermined numberof players. The device is operated by either an electric or springmotor.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a card dealingmachine that is fully automatic in its operation once the pack ofplaying cards has been placed in the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic card dealingmachine whose mechanism is activated by a small electric motor havingelectric batteries located in the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic card dealingmachine of the character herein described that contains a minimum numberof parts so related to each other as to make the device as fool proof aspossible.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an automatic carddealing machine that will deal the cards to from two to six playersmerely by having one person press the on button to start the machine andthe off button" to stop the machine.

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will no doubtappear as the reading of this specification and its appended claimsproceeds when the accompanying drawings are examined in connectiontherewith.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of this invention ready for use.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial exploded view ofthis invention showing its base, acam plate, and its top section.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of this invention, taken substantially alongline 3-3 of FIG. 1, and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a major portion of this invention, takensubstantially along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and viewed in the directionindicated by the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of this invention taken s ubstantially alonglines 5-5 of FIG. 5, and viewed in the direction indicated by thearrows.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a plurality of different cam plates used in thisinvention according to the number of card players playing the card gamewhen this invention is used t th a f H In the several views of theaccompanying drawings, like parts of this invention are indicated bylike reference numbers.

The reference number 10 indicates this invention in its entirety.

Directing ones attention first to FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings itwill be seen that this invention 10 consists of a base 11 that isbasically hexagonal when viewed from the top with chopped-off corners12. The just-mentioned base 11 is a hollow structure that is made ofplastic, metal, or of any other desired material. It houses thecentrally located and vertically disposed electric motor 13 and electricbatteries 14 for the motor. The bottom 15 of the aforesaid base 10 isprovided with a door (not shown) that permits access to the aforesaidelectric motor 13 and the batteries liThe six sloping sides of theaforesaid base 11 provide support for the playing cards, as willhereinafter be described. The playing cards are held on the base 11 bymeans of the vertically disposed peripheral edge 16 of the base. Thehorizontally disposed top 17 of the base 11 is provided with a raisedcenter member in disk form 18 in the center of which is located anopening 19 through which upwardly extends the shaft 20 of the aforesaidelectric motor 13. The aforesaid top 17 of base 11 is provided with twodiametrically opposed upwardly extending cam holders 21 that projectthrough an opening in the desired cam 22 when the cam is placed on topof the base, as is clearly shown in FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

Continuing to look at FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings it will beseen that a top section 23, which has the basic configuration of aninverted hollow cup, contains two spaced and parallel downwardlyextending integrally formed supports 24 in each one of which is locatedone end of the horizontally disposed shaft 25 to which is secured twospaced and parallel card pickup gears 26 which I personally call foursided gears since this detail of the invention has a rubber pad 27 oneach Outer end thereon K second fo r rm m b r (gear) 28 is secured tothe outer end of the stub-shaft 29 that is supported by one of theaforesaid supports 24. A spur gear 30 on the aforesaid stub-shaft 29 isin mesh with the spur gear 31 that is suitably secured to one end of theaforesaid horizontally disposed shaft 25. The outer end of each arm ofthe aforesaid four arm member 28 comes in contact with the upwardlyextending lugs 42 of the aforesaid ga m 22 when this invention is inactual use.

Although not previously mentioned, the lower end of each aforesaidsupport 24 is secured to a horizontally disposed circular plate 32 thathas two diametrically opposed downwardly extending teeth 33, the teeth33 being in contact with the spur gear 34 that is secured to thepreviously mentioned shaft 20 of the electric motor 13 of thisinvention. This novel construction provides a means of rotating theentire aforesaid top section 23 of the invention when the electric motor13 is activated. The aforesaid top section 23 is provided with aspring-loaded drawer 35 in which is placed one or two decks of playingcards 36 at the proper angle for easy. ee iri egkx. the efa d .eria s Pgears The way in which this invention is used is as follows: A cardplayer lifts off the aforesaid top section 23 by means of the handle 37and inserts a cam 22 that is suitable for the number of players that areplaying the game. For example: the aforesaid cam 22 is used for two cardplayers, while cam 38 is used for three card players, cam 39 for fourcard players, cam 40 for five card players, and cam 41 for six cardplayers. These five cams are fully illustrated in FIG. 6 of theaccompanying drawings where it is seen that each cam has an upwardlyextending lug 42 for each card player. The card player now rgalaces theaforesaid top section 23 on top of the base 11. When this is done, thetwo aforesaid cam holders 21 will proj ect up into already mentionedopenings in the cam and thus lock the cam in position on top of the base11 of this invention. The player new places playing cards 36 in thespring-loaded drawer 35 and sets the card discharge opening 43 that islocated in the side of the aforesaid top section 23 toward himself inorder to start the dealing to the next player on his left. He thenpushes the on button 44 downward, thus activating the aforesaid electricmotor 13 since the on button is obviously the starting switch for theelectric motor 13. The just-mentioned electric motor 13 rotates theentire top section 23 by means of the aforesaid spur gear 34 acting onthe two downwardly extending teeth 33 of the aforesaid plate 32 that hasalready been described as a part of the aforesaid top section 23 of thisinvention. The aforesaid four arm member 28 remains still until it comesin contact with one of the aforesaid lugs 42 of whichever cam is in thedevice. When this happens, and the aforesaid four arm member 28 isturned ninety degrees by passing over the lug 42, the action will rotatethe aforesaid horizontally disposed shaft 25 and thus cause the twopickup gears 26 to grab the top playing card and pull the card down tothe bottom of the aforesaid drawer 35 and kick the card out onto thedesignated rack. The device is shut off by pressing down on the ofibutton 45.

It is to be understood that this invention is subject to any and allchanges and/or modifications that one may care to make in so longas thechanges and/or modifications fall within the scope and intent of theappended claims. For example, the aforesaid electric motor 13 can bereplaced by any desired type of spring motor. The aforesaid electricbatteries 14 can be replaced by an electric cord for plugging into housecurrent, if it is so desired. A single electric switch can be used toreplace the separate on and off buttons and other changes can be made bythose experienced in the art.

What 1 now claim as new is:

1. An automatic card dealing machine comprising a base member. a topmember removably mounted upon said base member for rotation in ahorizontal plane, said top member being provided with a compartment forholding cards to be dealt and an aperture through which cards may bedischarged threrefrom. means associated with said base member forrotating said top member, a plate provided with a plurality of cams thenumber of which corresponds to the number of hands to be dealt, said camplate being horizontally disposed and carried on the upper end of saidbase member and below said top member about the axis of rotation thereofand being readily removable when said top member has been lifted fromsaid base member, a horizontal shaft Within said top member and carryinga plurality of rigid arms extending therefrom so disposed so that eacharm will in turn contact one of said cams during rotation of said topmember whereby said shaft is given limited rotation at spaced timeintervals, and a plurality of thin elongated flexible metal arms havingpliable tips disposed in said top member for successive engagement withsaid cards, means actuating said flexible arms responsive to suchlimited rotation of @QSWKKEQEW Still th K a i? Particular arm is Pressedagainst an individual card to be dealt and to cause the same to bedischarged through said aperture.

2. The invention of claim 1 whegein ti e rigidarrnscarried by saidhorizontal shaft are four in number and cause said shaft to rotatesubstantially one quarter revolution veach time one of said cams isengaged during rotation of the top member.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the means actuating the flexiblearms is a shaft which carries the flexible arm and is given limitedrotation when one of said rigid arms engages a cam during rotation ofthe top member.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein during an early phase of the limitedrotation of said flexible arm carrying shaft the pliable tip of one ofthe flexible arms is brought to bear against the card to be dealt at anangle of force which presses the card downward without lateral movementthereof, and as said shaft continues its cycle of rotation the flexiblearm is progressively flexed until the angle of force generated therebyis such that the card to be dealt is suddenly propelled from the deckand the top member by the rapid unflexing of the flexible arm.

5. The invention of claim l wherein during an early phase of the limitedrotation of said flexible arm carrying shaft the pliable tip of one ofthe flexible arms is brought to bear against the card to be dealt at anangle of force which presses the card downward without lateral movementthereof, and as said shaft continues its cycle of rotation the flexiblearm is progressively flexed until the angle of force generated therebyis such that the card to be dealt is suddenly propelled from the deckand the top member by the rapid unflaqnag theflh am UNITED STATES PATENTOFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Dated December 14, 1971 Patent No.

lnven fl Marlo W. V, Erickson It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Cancel the illustrative drawing on the cover sheet and Q substitute thefollowing:

USCOMM-DC sows-P69 U.$. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 0-366-334.

FORM PO-105O (10-69) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Paten N 3.627.331 Dated Invent0r(S) Marlo W. V. Erickson,--2-- It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patentand that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Signed and sealed this 12th day of December 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

' EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. j ROBERT GOT'ISCHALK Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 UsGOVERNMENT PRINTING orncz; I969 o-ass-su.

1. A system for automatically positioning the magnetic tape head of acartridge type tape player that is adapted to receive and playmultitrack tape cartridges of different kinds which have tapes withdifferent numbers of tracks recorded thereon, with the tape cartridgeshaving coded means for identifying the number of tracks, said systemincluding in combination, selector means responsive to the coded meanson the tape cartridges, cam means including a plurality of cam portionseach associated with one kind of cartridge, a cam follower in engagementwith said cam means and connected to the tape head for positioning thesame to cooperate with the tracks of a cartridge, and linking meansconnecting said selector means to said cam means, said selector meansoperating in response to placement of a tape cartridge in the tapeplayer to determine the number of tracks in the cartridge and actuatingsaid linking means in accordance therewith to position said cam meansrelative to said cam follower to render a predetermined cam portionoperative, said cam follower cooperating with the operative cam portionto automatically position the magnetic tape head in accordance with thenumber of tracks of such cartridge.
 2. Radio-receiving and tape-playingapparatus including in combination, a single supporting chassis,radio-receiving means on said chassis for producing audio signals,stereophonic cartridge-type tape playing means for receiving multitracktape cartridges of different kinds which have therein tapes withdifferent numbers of tracks recorded thereon, with each tape cartridgehaving means for identifying the number of tape tracks therein, saidplaying means including a magnetic head for deriving audio signals fromthe recorded tracks, audio amplifier means, electrical switch means,said switch means responding to the placement of a tape cartridge in thetape player for selectively connecting audio sigNals from the theradio-receiving means and from the tape-playing means to said audioamplifier means, selector means responsive to the cartridge-identifyingmeans of a cartridge in the tape player, cam means including camportions associated with the tracks of the different kinds of cartridgesand a cam follower connected to the tape head for positioning the same,and linking means connecting said selector means to said cam means, saidselector means operating in response to placement of a tape cartridge inthe tape player to determine the number of tracks in the cartridge andactuating said linking means in accordance therewith, said linking meansacting to position said cam means relative to said cam follower torender a predetermined cam portion operative, said cam followercooperating with the operative cam portions to automatically positionthe magnetic tape head in accordance with the number of tracks of thecartridge in the player.
 3. A system for automatically positioning themagnetic tape head of a cartridge type tape player that is adapted toreceive and play multitrack tape cartridges of different kinds whichhave tapes with different numbers of tracks recorded thereon, and withthe tape cartridge having shaped portions for identifying the number oftape tracks therein, said system including in combination, selectormeans integral with the tape player and being responsive to the kind ofcartridge, cam means including cam portions associated with differentkinds of cartridges, each of said cam portions having a plurality of camsurfaces thereon, a cam follower selectively contacting one of said camsurfaces on one of said cam portions and being connected to the tapehead for positioning the same, and linking means connecting saidselector means to said cam means, said selector means operating inresponse to placement of a tape cartridge in the tape player todetermine the number of tracks in he cartridge and actuating saidlinking means in accordance therewith, said linking means acting toposition one of said cam portions of said cam means so that said camfollower contacts one of said cam surfaces thereof to automaticallyposition the magnetic tape head in accordance with the number of tracksin the cartridge.
 4. A system for automatically positioning the magnetictape head of a cartridge type tape player that is adapted to receive andplay multitrack tape cartridges of different kinds which have tapes withdifferent numbers of tracks recorded therein, said system including incombination, shaped portions integral with the tape cartridge foridentifying the number of tape tracks therein, selector means integralwith the tape player and being responsive to the shaped portion, ahorizontally disposed shaft integral with the tape player and having asubstantially cylindrical shaped cam coaxially mounted thereon, said camincluding cam portions associated with the different kinds ofcartridges, each said cam portion having a plurality ofcircumferentially disposed cam surfaces around the periphery of saidcylindrical cam, a cam follower selectively contacting one of said camsurfaces on one of said cam portions and being connected to the tapehead for positioning the same, and linking means connecting saidselector means to said cam, said selector means operating in response toplacement of a tape cartridge in the tape player to determine the numberof tracks in the cartridge and actuating said linking means inaccordance therewith, said linking means acting to position one of saidcam portions of said cam so that said cam follower contacts one of saidcam surfaces thereof to automatically position the magnetic tape head inaccordance with the number of tracks in the cartridge.
 5. A system forautomatically positioning the magnetic tape head of a cartridge typetape player that is adapted to receive and play multitrack tapecartridges of different kinds which have different numbers of tapetracks therein, said system including in combination, a tape deck, fIrstand second tape cartridges each having different shaped portions thereonfor indicating the number of tape tracks therein, selector meansintegral with the tape player and being responsive to the shapedportions, a shaft mounted on said tape deck and having a cam slidablymounted thereon, said cam having first and second cam portions and firstand second positions on the shaft, a cam follower engaging said firstcam portion with said cam in said first position on said shaft and saidsecond cam portion with said cam in said second position on said shaft,said cam follower being connected to the tape head for positioning thesame, bias means resiliently biasing said cam in said first position onsaid shaft, and linking means connecting said selector means to said camfor sliding the same to said second position on said shaft against saidbias means, said selector means being responsive to said shaped portionof said first tape cartridge when received in the tape recorder to movesaid bias means to hold said claim in said first position, and saidselector means being responsive to said shaped portion of said secondcartridge to slide said cam to said second position on said shaft,whereby said cam follower cooperates with said first and second camportions to automatically position the magnetic tape head in accordancewith the number of tracks in said first and second cartridges.
 6. In acartridge tape recorder having a head, a capstan and a plate on whichare mounted cartridge guides, a head-supporting pin, a camshaft slidablypositioned under said pin, a plurality of cams fixedly mounted on saidcamshaft, a spring coupled to said cam shaft tending to slide saidcamshaft in one direction, a pivotally mounted lever engaging one end ofsaid camshaft and means operable by the insertion of the cartridge onsaid plate for pivoting said lever and sliding said camshaft againstsaid spring whereby one of said cams support said pin and changes theposition of said head relative to the tape.
 7. A cartridge-type tapeplayer system for playing cartridges with magnetic tape therein having anumber of recording tracks, comprising; a magnetic head being movablebetween a plurality of transverse positions, said head having at leasttwo magnetic transducer portions formed thereon to be in registry with acorresponding group of recording tracks formed on a tape within a givencartridge which is inserted into the tape player, said tape having aplurality of such groups of recording tracks, each of which requiresalignment of said magnetic transducer portions, and the number of suchgroups of recording tracks being indicated by identifying characteristicmeans formed on the given cartridge; sensing means on the tape playerfor sensing the identification characteristic means on the cartridgeinserted therein; and means responsive to said sensing means foradjusting said magnetic head to a predetermined one of said transverseposition for aligning said magnetic transducer portions to apredetermined group of recording tracks in response to theidentification characteristic means of the given cartridge inserted intothe tape player to cause playback of the recording tracks in registrywith said at least two magnetic transducer portions.
 8. Thecartridge-type tape player of claim 7 wherein said sensing meansincludes a lever which is actuated by a housing portion which forms saididentifying characteristic means on one type of cartridge, and whichlever is not actuated as a result of the absence of said housing portionwhich forms said identification characteristic means on another type ofcartridge.
 9. The cartridge-type tape player system of claim 7 whereinsaid means responsive to said sensing means for actuating said magnetichead includes a cam operable to move the head between said groups ofrecording tracks on the tape.
 10. A head shift mechanism in a taperecorder or playback machine for handling magnetic tapes havingdifferent numbers of recording tracks, compriSing: a record or playbackhead; means supporting said head for vertical movement above a top deckof said machine; cam means including at least two sets of cams and asupport shaft for carrying said sets of cams; cam follower meansconnected to said head for engaging one or the other of said sets ofcams to raise and lower said head between two pluralities of differentvertical positions with a turning of said shaft; selectively operablemeans for shifting said cam follower means relative to said cam means toengage one or the other of said sets of cams; and selectively operablemeans for turning said shaft between a plurality of preselectedpositions.
 11. The mechanism of claim 10 including means supporting saidshaft against axial movement.
 12. The mechanism of claim 11 wherein saidsets of cams are separate rings of cams and said shaft is coaxial withsaid rings of cams.
 13. Radio-receiving and tape-playing apparatusincluding in combination, a single supporting chassis, radio-receivingmeans on said chassis for producing audio signals, stereophoniccartridge-type tape playing means for receiving multitrack tapecartridges of different kinds which have therein tapes with differentnumbers of pairs of stereo tracks recorded thereon, with each tapecartridge having means for identifying the number of tape trackstherein, said playing means including a magnetic head for deriving audiosignals from the recorded pairs of stereo tracks, audio amplifier means,electrical switch means, said switch means responding to the placementof the tape cartridge in the tape player for selectively connectingaudio signals from the radio-receiving means and from the tape-playingmeans to said audio signal amplifier means, selector means responsive tothe cartridge-identifying means of a cartridge in the tape player, ashaft having a substantially cylindrical cam coaxially and slidablymounted thereon, said cam including first and second cam portions, eachcam portion having a plurality of different cam surfaces around theperiphery thereof, each different cam surface being associated with apair of stereo tape tracks, a cam follower selectively contacting one ofthe cam surfaces and being connected to the tape head for positioningthe same, linking means connecting said selector means to said cam, saidselector means operating in response to placement of the tape cartridgein the tape player to determine the number of tracks in the cartridgeand actuating said linking means in accordance therewith, said linkingmeans acting to position said cam on said shaft to position one of saidcam portions of said cam so that said cam follower contacts one of saidsurfaces thereof to automatically position the magnetic head inaccordance with the number of tracks in the cartridge, actuating meansconnected to said shaft for rotating the same upon the completion ofplaying of one of the different pairs of stereo tracks on the tape,thereby positioning a different cam surface into contact with said camfollower to automatically position the magnetic tape head to play adifferent pair of tracks of the multitrack tape.